Lexical Summary hexékonta: Sixty Original Word: ἑξήκοντα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sixty, threescore. The tenth multiple of hex; sixty -- sixty(-fold), threescore. see GREEK hex NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origincardinal number from hex and a modified form of deka Definition sixty NASB Translation seven (1), sixty (7), sixty-six* (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1835: ἑξήκονταἑξήκοντα, οἱ, αἱ, τά, sixty: Matthew 13:8, 23, etc. Topical Lexicon Scope and Meaning ἑξήκοντα denotes the cardinal number “sixty.” In Scripture it functions as an exact figure, never as a vague approximation. Its occurrences span parable, narrative, instruction for church order, and prophecy, showing that God communicates with numerical precision across varied genres. Harvest Multiplication in the Parable of the Sower Matthew 13:8, Matthew 13:23, Mark 4:8, and Mark 4:20 place “sixtyfold” between “thirtyfold” and “hundredfold.” The gradation underscores both the certainty of fruitfulness in receptive hearts and the diversity of results under the same gospel seed. Sixtyfold represents abundant yield without implying perfection; the number invites every believer to expect significant but varying increase. By citing it twice in each Gospel (statement of the parable and Jesus’ explanation), the Evangelists anchor the idea that spiritual fruit is measurable and recognizably large. Measured Journey on the Road to Emmaus Luke 24:13 records that Emmaus lay “about sixty stadia” from Jerusalem (“about seven miles”). The distance is near enough for the disciples to reach Jerusalem before nightfall yet long enough for the risen Christ to open “all the Scriptures” to them on the way. The precise figure conveys the historical concreteness of the resurrection appearance and reinforces that the walk provided sufficient time for extended exposition—a pattern for Word-centered discipleship. Age Qualification for Widows In 1 Timothy 5:9 Paul instructs, “A widow should be enrolled only if she is at least sixty years old”. The benchmark recognizes sixty as the threshold of seniority in Greco-Roman and Jewish cultures, when remarriage was considered improbable and financial vulnerability more acute. By fixing the number, Paul protects the church from subjective favoritism and reserves sustained support for those no longer able to maintain themselves. The standard also honors mature womanhood, indicating a stage of life suited to mentoring younger believers (1 Timothy 5:10; Titus 2:3–5). Eschatological Timeframes of 1,260 Days Revelation 11:3 and Revelation 12:6 both include ἑξήκοντα within the composite 1,260 (one thousand two hundred sixty) days. The repeated span matches the “time, times, and half a time” of Daniel 7:25 and Daniel 12:7, laying down a prophetic period of three and one-half years. Sixty here is integral to the total, underscoring that God governs history to the very day. The painstaking specificity assures persecuted saints that tribulation is neither random nor endless—it is counted, limited, and under divine appointment. Moral Calculation and the Number of the Beast Revelation 13:18 reads, “that number is 666” (ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἕξ). The middle element, ἑξήκοντα, forms part of a triple-six structure that imitates yet falls short of the divine fullness symbolized by seven. Here sixty is locked into an anti-Trinity of sixes, warning the church that evil often masquerades as near perfection. The saints are called to “calculate” (ψηφισάτω) the number, demonstrating that careful, Spirit-guided reasoning about Scripture and culture is essential for discernment in the last days. Theology of Numbers: Sixty as Mature Sufficiency Throughout the New Testament record, sixty implies completeness suited to purpose yet less than the maximal (hundredfold) or ultimate (sevenfold) ideal. In agrarian context it marks a harvest far beyond expectations; in pastoral care it delineates the season of life where ministry roles shift from active provisioning to receiving communal support; in prophecy it contributes to arithmetic that seals God’s sovereign horizons. The Holy Spirit thus employs sixty to teach both realism and hope—realism that fruit, age, or trial has definable limits, and hope that those limits are set by a faithful Lord. Pastoral and Practical Implications • Encourage believers that significant fruitfulness (sixtyfold) is attainable without every life reaching the same numerical outcome. Summary ἑξήκοντα threads through teaching, narrative, instruction, and prophecy as a marker of God-ordained measure. Whether describing crops, miles, years, or apocalyptic calculations, “sixty” reinforces that the Lord governs growth, guides journeys, guards the vulnerable, and guarantees the consummation of His redemptive plan. Forms and Transliterations εξηκοντα εξήκοντα ἑξήκοντα εξηκονταδύο εξηκονταέξ εξηκονταεπτά εξηκονταέτους εξηκονταετών εξηκονταοκτώ εξηκονταπέντε εξηλίασαν εξηλιασμένων εξηλιάσωμεν exekonta exēkonta hexekonta hexēkonta hexḗkontaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 13:8 AdjGRK: ὃ δὲ ἑξήκοντα ὃ δὲ NAS: some sixty, and some KJV: some sixtyfold, some INT: some moreover sixty some moreover Matthew 13:23 Adj Mark 4:8 Adj Mark 4:20 Adj Luke 24:13 Adj 1 Timothy 5:9 Adj Revelation 11:3 Adj Revelation 12:6 Adj Revelation 13:18 Adj |
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